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What you'll do in college
These majors study the legal framework that governs society, including constitutional law, contracts, torts, and legal writing. Coursework focuses heavily on reading comprehension, logical reasoning, ethics, and argumentation. Programs often include mock trial, moot court, and pre-law advising to prepare students for the LSAT and the rigors of law school.
What you'll do after college
Most graduates use this major as a stepping stone to law school (earning a J.D.) to become practicing attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, or judges. Others work immediately as paralegals, legal assistants, compliance officers, or policy analysts. Salaries vary widely, with corporate attorneys generally earning significantly more than public interest lawyers or legal support staff.
Famous graduates
- Sonia Sotomayor — Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; B.A. in History (Pre-Law track) from Princeton University, J.D. from Yale Law School
- John Grisham — Best-selling author and former attorney; B.S. in Accounting from Mississippi State University, J.D. from the University of Mississippi
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings
By SAT median
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 881 | 48,836 | 38% / 62% | 1% | $54,676 | 95% |
| 613 | 27,779 | 39% / 61% | 1% | $53,302 | 95% | |
| 192 | 7,878 | 34% / 66% | 1% | $54,624 | 96% | |
| 16 | 3,149 | 42% / 58% | 1% | $56,345 | 95% | |
| 95 | 2,055 | 31% / 69% | 2% | $56,771 | 95% | |
| 4 | 985 | 39% / 61% | 1% | $53,475 | 94% | |
| 49 | 911 | 22% / 78% | 2% | $55,371 | 96% | |
| 37 | 820 | 21% / 79% | 1% | $54,178 | 97% | |
| 30 | 538 | 66% / 34% | 0% | $60,390 | 97% | |
| 1 | 328 | 38% / 62% | 0% | $70,311 | 95% | |
| 5 | 304 | 43% / 57% | 0% | $61,265 | 97% | |
| 24 | 231 | 42% / 58% | 2% | $53,762 | 96% | |
| 6 | 228 | 43% / 57% | 0% | $58,664 | 97% | |
| 14 | 227 | 21% / 79% | 1% | $54,364 | 95% | |
| 12 | 221 | 30% / 70% | 1% | $50,845 | 97% | |
| 7 | 217 | 20% / 80% | 6% | $59,201 | 94% | |
| 1 | 214 | 46% / 54% | 0% | $71,738 | 96% | |
| 26 | 198 | 17% / 83% | 1% | $53,590 | 91% | |
| 2 | 195 | 35% / 65% | 2% | $62,439 | 91% | |
| 1 | 156 | 44% / 56% | 1% | $59,928 | 97% | |
| 1 | 140 | 81% / 19% | 0% | $67,978 | 100% | |
| 4 | 138 | 18% / 82% | 1% | $51,120 | 97% | |
| 1 | 125 | 43% / 57% | 2% | $58,587 | 97% | |
| 1 | 104 | 23% / 77% | 2% | $74,073 | 94% | |
| 1 | 94 | 18% / 82% | 0% | $61,817 | 97% | |
| 8 | 93 | 41% / 59% | 1% | $62,791 | 93% | |
| 6 | 89 | 30% / 70% | 1% | $58,533 | 94% | |
| 8 | 86 | 50% / 50% | 1% | $51,514 | 98% | |
| 3 | 85 | 27% / 73% | 1% | $75,517 | 95% | |
| 4 | 74 | 35% / 65% | 3% | $67,020 | 95% | |
| 1 | 71 | 14% / 86% | 1% | $49,275 | 100% | |
| 2 | 70 | 67% / 33% | 13% | $67,166 | 99% | |
| 2 | 68 | 65% / 35% | 1% | $60,044 | 84% | |
| 2 | 66 | 33% / 67% | 3% | $59,006 | 95% | |
| 1 | 66 | 42% / 58% | 0% | $55,050 | ||
| 6 | 65 | 65% / 35% | 0% | $55,790 | 97% | |
| 1 | 64 | 6% / 94% | 0% | $63,116 | 98% | |
| 2 | 63 | 48% / 52% | 2% | $83,772 | 95% | |
| 1 | 63 | 27% / 73% | 2% | $43,784 | 96% | |
| 2 | 59 | 69% / 31% | 0% | $68,510 | 90% | |
| 1 | 55 | 47% / 53% | 0% | $50,916 | 97% | |
| 2 | 54 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $62,133 | 91% | |
| 4 | 51 | 69% / 31% | 0% | $53,744 | ||
| 1 | 40 | 20% / 80% | 0% | $64,108 | 100% | |
| 3 | 37 | 38% / 62% | 0% | $55,737 | 91% | |
| 1 | 36 | 83% / 17% | 8% | $62,064 | 94% | |
| 1 | 32 | 38% / 62% | 0% | $60,443 | 100% | |
| 1 | 27 | 22% / 78% | 15% | $67,934 | ||
| 1 | 23 | 43% / 57% | 4% | $65,905 | ||
| 1 | 23 | 57% / 43% | 4% | $65,178 | ||
| 2 | 22 | 82% / 18% | 0% | $49,212 | ||
| 1 | 18 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $51,797 | 91% | |
| 6 | 16 | 31% / 69% | 0% | $51,646 | ||
| 1 | 15 | 47% / 53% | 0% | $49,762 | ||
| 1 | 15 | 7% / 93% | 0% | $44,770 | ||
| 1 | 13 | 15% / 85% | 0% | $52,140 | 95% | |
| 1 | 13 | 62% / 38% | 0% | $59,296 | 92% | |
| 1 | 8 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $57,567 | ||
| 1 | 5 | 60% / 40% | 0% | $53,827 | ||
| 1 | 4 | 75% / 25% | 0% | $58,784 | ||
| 1 | 4 | 75% / 25% | 0% | $46,451 | 94% | |
| 3 | 2 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $52,534 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $54,603 | 93% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $53,673 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $56,446 | 94% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $47,806 | 97% | |
| 1 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $50,061 | 89% |